David Mair
@davidmair4.bsky.social
Science & knowledge for policy, democracy, public governance and public administration at European Commission’s Joint Research Centre but personal views only.
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making_en
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making_en
Pinned
David Mair
@davidmair4.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Trying to understand and navigate the current political situation?
These Joint Research Centre reports may give some answers and ideas.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
These Joint Research Centre reports may give some answers and ideas.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
So happy not to be the only person who loathes “at pace” as meaningless.
January 3, 2026 at 12:18 PM
So happy not to be the only person who loathes “at pace” as meaningless.
Reposted by David Mair
MOST EXTRAORDINARY EVENT IN WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY
Hundreds of records smashed in over 20 countries with insane margins:
Burkina Faso,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Benin,Togo,Mali,Chad,Niger,Nigeria,Cameroon,Gabon,Kenya,Congo,DR Congo,Tanzania
Nothing ever seen anywhere compared to this
Hundreds of records smashed in over 20 countries with insane margins:
Burkina Faso,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Benin,Togo,Mali,Chad,Niger,Nigeria,Cameroon,Gabon,Kenya,Congo,DR Congo,Tanzania
Nothing ever seen anywhere compared to this
December 31, 2025 at 6:59 PM
MOST EXTRAORDINARY EVENT IN WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY
Hundreds of records smashed in over 20 countries with insane margins:
Burkina Faso,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Benin,Togo,Mali,Chad,Niger,Nigeria,Cameroon,Gabon,Kenya,Congo,DR Congo,Tanzania
Nothing ever seen anywhere compared to this
Hundreds of records smashed in over 20 countries with insane margins:
Burkina Faso,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Benin,Togo,Mali,Chad,Niger,Nigeria,Cameroon,Gabon,Kenya,Congo,DR Congo,Tanzania
Nothing ever seen anywhere compared to this
Reposted by David Mair
What happens next?
Forget anything ever happened anywhere in the past centuries: nothing can even compare
Thousands of January records will be smashed by up to 8C margins in virtually every African country from Algeria to South Africa
Millions of km2 will break records for weeks
Forget anything ever happened anywhere in the past centuries: nothing can even compare
Thousands of January records will be smashed by up to 8C margins in virtually every African country from Algeria to South Africa
Millions of km2 will break records for weeks
December 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
What happens next?
Forget anything ever happened anywhere in the past centuries: nothing can even compare
Thousands of January records will be smashed by up to 8C margins in virtually every African country from Algeria to South Africa
Millions of km2 will break records for weeks
Forget anything ever happened anywhere in the past centuries: nothing can even compare
Thousands of January records will be smashed by up to 8C margins in virtually every African country from Algeria to South Africa
Millions of km2 will break records for weeks
Reposted by David Mair
Brigitte Bardot, trente ans de sympathie pour l’extrême droite
Brigitte Bardot, trente ans de sympathie pour l’extrême droite
Cinq fois condamnée pour des propos racistes, l’actrice, dont sa fondation a annoncé la mort dimanche 28 décembre, fut une compagne de route du clan lepéniste, la seule vedette à assumer ses idées d’extrême droite.
www.lemonde.fr
December 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Brigitte Bardot, trente ans de sympathie pour l’extrême droite
“With all the benefits AI brings, the challenge is this: how can we harness its promise of superhuman intelligence without eroding human reasoning, the cornerstone of the Enlightenment and of liberal democracy itself? “
Need to understand our embodied cognition and line between thinking and doing.
Need to understand our embodied cognition and line between thinking and doing.
I wrote a short essay for the @theguardian.com touching on AI, Joan Didion, and Immanuel Kant. If you happen to have some time over the holidays, I’d love for you to read it.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Our king, priest and feudal lord – how AI is taking us back to the dark ages | Joseph de Weck
Since the Enlightenment, we’ve been making our own decisions. But now AI may be about to change that, says Joseph de Weck, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM
“With all the benefits AI brings, the challenge is this: how can we harness its promise of superhuman intelligence without eroding human reasoning, the cornerstone of the Enlightenment and of liberal democracy itself? “
Need to understand our embodied cognition and line between thinking and doing.
Need to understand our embodied cognition and line between thinking and doing.
Light at the end of the tunnel of 2025 in the Forêt de Soignes/Het Zoniënwoud this morning.
December 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Light at the end of the tunnel of 2025 in the Forêt de Soignes/Het Zoniënwoud this morning.
Government is mostly a function of administrative capacity and public norms, the rest is just words on paper.
Process legitimacy matters as much if not more than output legitimacy to trust in public institutions.
Values tensions and tradeoffs can only be resolved by deliberation not analysis.
Process legitimacy matters as much if not more than output legitimacy to trust in public institutions.
Values tensions and tradeoffs can only be resolved by deliberation not analysis.
December 16, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Government is mostly a function of administrative capacity and public norms, the rest is just words on paper.
Process legitimacy matters as much if not more than output legitimacy to trust in public institutions.
Values tensions and tradeoffs can only be resolved by deliberation not analysis.
Process legitimacy matters as much if not more than output legitimacy to trust in public institutions.
Values tensions and tradeoffs can only be resolved by deliberation not analysis.
Nice piece on the value of trusted institutions in the modern world and the challenges involved in earning public trust by being trustworthy.
Connects to #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report:
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Connects to #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report:
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
December 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Nice piece on the value of trusted institutions in the modern world and the challenges involved in earning public trust by being trustworthy.
Connects to #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report:
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Connects to #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report:
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Nice pics for Anglo-Belgian aficionados from the Guardian.
December 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Nice pics for Anglo-Belgian aficionados from the Guardian.
December 12, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"This will in turn create new opportunities for Europe, which has strengths in [...] and the chance to build the most trusted [... ] in the world. @marietjeschaake.bsky.social
Trustworthiness as a competitive advantage for Europe, not only in AI.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Trustworthiness as a competitive advantage for Europe, not only in AI.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Europe must be ready when the AI bubble bursts
A market correction will give the EU the chance to offer a trust-based alternative to American tech
giftarticle.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"This will in turn create new opportunities for Europe, which has strengths in [...] and the chance to build the most trusted [... ] in the world. @marietjeschaake.bsky.social
Trustworthiness as a competitive advantage for Europe, not only in AI.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Trustworthiness as a competitive advantage for Europe, not only in AI.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Reposted by David Mair
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
Just been given this book from @lukekemp.bsky.social and looking forward to reading about the tree of doom (really!)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Self-termination is most likely’: the history and future of societal collapse
An epic analysis of 5,000 years of civilisation argues that a global collapse is coming unless inequality is vanquished
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Just been given this book from @lukekemp.bsky.social and looking forward to reading about the tree of doom (really!)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Excellent speech on the importance of evidence-informed policymaking from James Lawless,TD Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in Ireland at the recent Research for Policy Conference in Dublin.
#scipol
youtu.be/Ua1v25qA8Mg
#scipol
youtu.be/Ua1v25qA8Mg
Research for policy Conference Ministerial Address – James Lawless, TD
YouTube video by Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Excellent speech on the importance of evidence-informed policymaking from James Lawless,TD Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in Ireland at the recent Research for Policy Conference in Dublin.
#scipol
youtu.be/Ua1v25qA8Mg
#scipol
youtu.be/Ua1v25qA8Mg
"Policymakers should also resolve to value and communicate the role that science has had for centuries in increasing life expectancy and human health, living standards and the quality of everyday experience."
Are resolutions enough?
Are resolutions enough?
Comment: How to get science back into policymaking. Misunderstanding and hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored. By Diane Coyle & Michael Kenny | Nature www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to get science back into policymaking
Misunderstanding and hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
"Policymakers should also resolve to value and communicate the role that science has had for centuries in increasing life expectancy and human health, living standards and the quality of everyday experience."
Are resolutions enough?
Are resolutions enough?
Is political behaviour (voting, activism etc.) driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
How much do policy preferences drive political behaviour?
Are policy preferences driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
#whyfactsmatter
How much do policy preferences drive political behaviour?
Are policy preferences driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
#whyfactsmatter
December 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Is political behaviour (voting, activism etc.) driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
How much do policy preferences drive political behaviour?
Are policy preferences driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
#whyfactsmatter
How much do policy preferences drive political behaviour?
Are policy preferences driven more by normative beliefs and identities than factual beliefs?
#whyfactsmatter
👇
🚨 New in Nature+Science!🚨
AI chatbots can shift voter attitudes on candidates & policies, often by 10+pp
🔹Exps in US Canada Poland & UK
🔹More “facts”→more persuasion (not psych tricks)
🔹Increasing persuasiveness reduces "fact" accuracy
🔹Right-leaning bots=more inaccurate
AI chatbots can shift voter attitudes on candidates & policies, often by 10+pp
🔹Exps in US Canada Poland & UK
🔹More “facts”→more persuasion (not psych tricks)
🔹Increasing persuasiveness reduces "fact" accuracy
🔹Right-leaning bots=more inaccurate
December 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
👇
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "science" (72×)
2. "democracy" (42×)
3. "policy" (39×)
4. "trust" (38×)
5. "public" (30×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
1. "science" (72×)
2. "democracy" (42×)
3. "policy" (39×)
4. "trust" (38×)
5. "public" (30×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest 2025 (Bluesky Wrapped)
A recap of your year on Bluesky. Discover patterns, connections, and insights from your journey in the ATmosphere.
anisota.net
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "science" (72×)
2. "democracy" (42×)
3. "policy" (39×)
4. "trust" (38×)
5. "public" (30×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
1. "science" (72×)
2. "democracy" (42×)
3. "policy" (39×)
4. "trust" (38×)
5. "public" (30×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Reposted by David Mair
The place we live in influences our trust in institutions.
In 2024, on average:
- 60% of people living in cities trusted the EU,
- compared to 52% of people in towns,
- and 48% of those in rural areas.
Read the article: link.europa.eu/p9T3gG #JRC #SciPol
In 2024, on average:
- 60% of people living in cities trusted the EU,
- compared to 52% of people in towns,
- and 48% of those in rural areas.
Read the article: link.europa.eu/p9T3gG #JRC #SciPol
December 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The place we live in influences our trust in institutions.
In 2024, on average:
- 60% of people living in cities trusted the EU,
- compared to 52% of people in towns,
- and 48% of those in rural areas.
Read the article: link.europa.eu/p9T3gG #JRC #SciPol
In 2024, on average:
- 60% of people living in cities trusted the EU,
- compared to 52% of people in towns,
- and 48% of those in rural areas.
Read the article: link.europa.eu/p9T3gG #JRC #SciPol
Proud that work of @ec.europa.eu Centre for Organisational Transformation can now be found online.
The Joint Research Centre #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu brings scientific insights to improve the way we share knowledge and work together.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation...
The Joint Research Centre #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu brings scientific insights to improve the way we share knowledge and work together.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation...
Organisational Transformation
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu
December 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Proud that work of @ec.europa.eu Centre for Organisational Transformation can now be found online.
The Joint Research Centre #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu brings scientific insights to improve the way we share knowledge and work together.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation...
The Joint Research Centre #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu brings scientific insights to improve the way we share knowledge and work together.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation...
"By sharing what they believe about the data – rather than just the data itself – experts can provide the social cues that our brains need to more strongly bind the information to its source."
Don't just "stick to the facts"!
#scipol @scharfbillig.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-we-remem...
Don't just "stick to the facts"!
#scipol @scharfbillig.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-we-remem...
Why we remember the source of an opinion better than the source of a fact – new research
Experts can combat misinformation by sharing their opinions, instead of just information.
theconversation.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"By sharing what they believe about the data – rather than just the data itself – experts can provide the social cues that our brains need to more strongly bind the information to its source."
Don't just "stick to the facts"!
#scipol @scharfbillig.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-we-remem...
Don't just "stick to the facts"!
#scipol @scharfbillig.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-we-remem...
This.
One of the best arguments for #science4policy #scipol #evidence-informedpolicy is that science is good at causality and problem definition, so it helps policymakers tackle underlying, systemic causes rather than symptoms and develop a robust intervention logic.
One of the best arguments for #science4policy #scipol #evidence-informedpolicy is that science is good at causality and problem definition, so it helps policymakers tackle underlying, systemic causes rather than symptoms and develop a robust intervention logic.
That's why I try to define the problem at a systems level, too often the calls to wake up focus on the symptoms, not the causes, and it means any response is limited and ultimately ineffective.
November 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This.
One of the best arguments for #science4policy #scipol #evidence-informedpolicy is that science is good at causality and problem definition, so it helps policymakers tackle underlying, systemic causes rather than symptoms and develop a robust intervention logic.
One of the best arguments for #science4policy #scipol #evidence-informedpolicy is that science is good at causality and problem definition, so it helps policymakers tackle underlying, systemic causes rather than symptoms and develop a robust intervention logic.
Power is a function of relationships has been living rent-free in my head ever since.
Want to become more powerful? Build more trusting relationships.
Want to become more powerful? Build more trusting relationships.
Two gripping episodes that demonstrate the power of history to illuminate our understanding of the present.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Part two of David’s conversation with historian Chris Clark asks whether the best historical insights into Trump-like leadership come from comparison with kings or commoners, democrats or dictators.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Part two of David’s conversation with historian Chris Clark asks whether the best historical insights into Trump-like leadership come from comparison with kings or commoners, democrats or dictators.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Power is a function of relationships has been living rent-free in my head ever since.
Want to become more powerful? Build more trusting relationships.
Want to become more powerful? Build more trusting relationships.
Reposted by David Mair
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
UK and Belgium both have Budgets this week with comparable fiscal challenges.
Interesting to compare and contrast the process and durability of the outcomes under FPTP and proportional (plus compulsory voting) electoral systems.
Interesting to compare and contrast the process and durability of the outcomes under FPTP and proportional (plus compulsory voting) electoral systems.
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
UK and Belgium both have Budgets this week with comparable fiscal challenges.
Interesting to compare and contrast the process and durability of the outcomes under FPTP and proportional (plus compulsory voting) electoral systems.
Interesting to compare and contrast the process and durability of the outcomes under FPTP and proportional (plus compulsory voting) electoral systems.